Suction holding apparatus



' June 20, 1950 EA. HAWK 2,512,274

SUCTION HOLDING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 29, 1948 '4 Sheets-Sheet 1 50 I i w g 37 10 v E ZO II II 45 IIIIIIIllIII/A 15 llll g a Q 11 awe/WM F 1/ Z y ElwuwZHar/zz/k June 20, 1650 E. A. HAWK SUCTION HOLDING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 29, 1948 I'll M H .m

June 20, 1950 E. A. HAWK sucnon HOLDING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 29, 1948 QK ki n m w E Gttornegs June 20, 1950 E. A. HAWK suc'rxon HOLDING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 29; 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 a $33 Ram Jam 7 w q w a 2 a 2 m $n=\\ m An I 7 2, 7 F, -I Q L I 1 .2. E n. $2 NR 5 EFQEZ 5 l QQ Y V Gttornegs Patented June 20, 1950 U NIT E D S TATES PAT EN T OFFICE SUCTION HOLDING APPARATUS Elwin A. Hawk; East Rochester, iiOhio Application January 29, 1948;Serial No. 5083 5*Claims. l

' The invention relates to suction holding apparatus such as a vacuum chuck or a suction lifter. More particularly the invention relates in one form to a vacuum chuck adapted'for holding a plate or other piece of dinnerware with the top surface of the plateuppermost, the chuck being adapted for rotation about a vertical axis While the plate or otherpiece of dinnerware is being decoratedas by the application of ,a .line of a compound of one of theflnoble metals suchas gold, silver, and platinum, or other colorin material.

I Am applicator .for applying. a solution of .such coloring material upon the top surface of a rotating piece of dinnerware is .set forth in my-application for U. S. Letters Patent Serial No. 721,126, filed January 9, 1947.

In the mass productionof dinnerware decorated with a line of coloring material, a usual chuck includes an upper mold having an ,upper surface conforming to the lower surface of a particular piece of dinnerware such as a plate. There is required a separate mold for each size of dinnerware piece. The loading and unloading of successive pieces of dinnerware on the usual chucks takes considerable timeand requires considerable skill on the part of the operator.

. From another standpointprior to the present improvements the holding force" created by producing a suction or partial vacuum orsubatmospheri-c pressure in a sealed spacebeneath a piece mounted on a chuck has not been utilized to any greatextent, because it has been considered necessary to provide a suction or vacuum pump and a pipe line for producing the suctionor partial vacuum or subatmospheric pressure in the sealed space beneath the piece held in the chuck.

/ Also from another standpoint any chuck for holding a piece of dinnerware while being subjected to a processing operation such as being decorated by a line of coloring material, should be adapted to center the piece.

In another form, the invention more particularly relates to a suction lifter adapted to lift objects having a fiat surface such as sheet material including stainless steel, brass, copper, and other non-magnetic metal sheets, Wallboard and other non-magnetic building boards, and the like.

The objects of the present invention include the provision of improved suction holding apparatus which may be embodied in avacuum chuck particularly adapted for holding a piece of dinnerware while being subject to a processing operation' such asthe application of a line of color- '2 ing material on the outer'edge of'the-piece of dinnerware.

Further objects of the present-invention include the provision of such a vacuum chuck adapted for holding'apiece of dinnerware'or similar article while being subject to a processing operation such as the applicationof a line of coloring material on its top surface, and which also includes means operative to automatically center each piece of dinnerware-"as it is loaded on the chuck.

Further objects "ofthe present invention include theprovision "of such'--a--vacuum chuck in Which the loading and unloading of-successive pieces of dinnerware or similar articles'may be accomplishedveryrapidly.

Further objects'of the presentinvention include theprovision of improved suction holding apparatus which maybe embodied in a suction lifter adapted to 'lift objects havinga flat or substantially flat'surface.

Further objects of the presentinvention include the provision of such suctionholding apparatus in" which-the'parts are of simplified construction-and arrangement, whereby the parts may be rapidly and economically manufactured, and easily and "correctly assembled and disassembled; "so thatthe chuckmay be economically produced and maintained.

The foregoing and other objects are attained by the suction holding-apparatus, parts, combinations, and 'subcombinations, which comprise the present invention and the nature of which is set forth in the-following general statement and preferred'embo'diments of which are set forth in the following description; and-which are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims forming part hereof.

The nature "ofthe improved-suction holding apparatus of "thepr-esent invention'may be stated in general terms as including an annular .diaphragm seat member having atone enda flat edge. -A diaphragm :of resilient material, preferably rubber or a rubber. compound, is seated upon the flat en'd'of the' annular: member.

Means connected with the center of the diaphragm and operating within theannular member are provided for changingthe conformation of the diaphragm from a flat conformation to a dished or depressed conformation. When the diaphragm is 'flat it 'has .no I-holding force upon an object abutted by -the diaphragm. When the annular-seat member holds an annular zone of the diaphragm against an object and the central-portion of theres'ilient diaphragm within the annular zone is pulled away from the object, the central portion of the diaphragm is domed over the opposite face of the object, and there is formed between the domed central portion of the diaphragm and the opposite face of the object a sealed suction chamber in which there is a partial vacuum, or in other words in which the pressure is subatmospheric, with the result that the external atmospheric pressure tightly holds the annular zone or the diaphragm in engagement with the object, and thus the object is held by the diaphragm as long as it is domed and the seal is maintained.

By way of example, preferred embodiments of the improved suction holding apparatus, and "of improved parts thereof, are illustrated in the acwhich:

Figure l is a top plan view of one embodiment of the improved suction holding apparatus in the form of a vacuum chuck;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view thereof as on line 2-2, Fig. 1, showing a plate on the diaphragm when the diaphragm is substantially fiat and having no holding power on the plate, the plate having been just placed upon the diaphragm or having been subject to a processing operation and being ready for bein unloaded;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional .view thereof as on line 33, Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing a plate loaded upon the diaphragm and the diaphragm being partially domed, and the parts of the centering means being shown in their position after having effected the centering of theplate;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Figs. 2 and 4 showing the diaphragm completely domed and holding the plate, and showing the centering means withdrawn from the side of and below the plate, the top of the plate being clear and ready for being subjected to an applicator of coloring, material or similar operation;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view of a second embodiment of the improved suction holding apparatus in the form of a vacuum chuck, the diaphragm being substantially fiat and a plate being shown in its position just after being placed on the chuck, and before the doming of the dia phragm;

Figure 7 is a similar vertical sectional view of the suction holding apparatus as shown in Fig. 6 after the diaphragm has been domed and is holding the plate;

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional View of a third embodiment of the improved suction holding apparatus in the form of a suction lifter for lifting objects having a flat surface such as sheet material such as non-magnetic sheet aluminum, the parts of the suction lifter being shown in their relative positions when the diaphragm is in engagement with a sheet of non-magnetic material and ready to lift the same; and

Figure 9 is a similar View showing the improved suction lifter and its parts in their relative positions for releasing a sheet of non-magneticmaterial.

Similar numerals refer to similar throughout the drawings.

One embodiment of the improved suction holding apparatus in the form of a vacuum chuck is shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, and is indicated generally by Ill and includes a horizontal base plate I I having a circular opening formed therein in which is located and secured to the base plate I l a tubular bearing sleeve housing l2, and a pair parts 4 of ball bearings 13 are carried. in the sleeve 11011 3 ing [2.

Within the bore of the inner raceways of the ball bearing l 3 there is fitted and secured a tubular shaft l4 having a vertical axis of rotation. Below the base plate I l and the lower end of the sleeve housing l2 there is secured on the tubular shaft M a V-pulley 15 which is associated with belt and motor drive means not shown for rotating the tubular shaft l4 and the parts mounted thereon.

In the bore of the tubular shaft N there is slidably guide mounted for longitudinal movement a vertical rod [6 which extends above and below the upper and lower ends of the tubular shaft I4. On the lower end of the rod Hi there is secured a vertically swiveled caster I! which operates on a raising and lowering cam not shown.

Between the lower end of the rod l6 and the lower end of the tubular shaft I4 there is adjustably secured a collar l8 and between the collar l8 and the lower end of the tubular shaft 14 there is interposed a compression spring 19 which urges the rod 16 downwardly against the raising and lowering cam.

On the upper end of the tubular shaft I! there is secured an annular diaphragm seat member indicated generally by 20, which as shown is in the form of an upwardly opening cup having an upper cylinder wall 2| at the lower end of which there is a bottom wall 22 which has a central internally threaded vertical opening screwed upon external threads at the upper end of the tubular shaft l4. In the cylinder wall 2! there are formed a plurality of vertical slots 23. Within the cylinder wall 2| there is secured on the rod 16 adjacent its upper end a collar 24, and a horizontal link arm 25 extends through each slot 23 in the cylinder wall 2 l, and the inner end of each horizontal link arm 25 is secured to the collar 24.

Below the lower end of each slot 23 there is mounted on the cylinder wall 21 a pivot bracket 26, and there is provided a plurality of laterally extending swinging link arms 21 each having its inner end provided with a pivotal connection 28 with one of the pivot brackets 26. On the outer end of each swinging link arm 21 there is mounted horizontally pivoting joint means 29, and similarly on the outer end of each horizontal link arm 25 there is mounted a horizontally pivoting joint means 29.

Each horizontally pivoting joint means 29 includes adjustable sleeve members 29l and 29-2, and one of the sleeve members 29-! is adjustably mounted on the outer end of the horizontal link arm 25 and another of the sleeve members 29! is adjustably mounted on the outer end of the swinging link arm 21. A dinnerware centering arm 30 extends through each set of the sleeve members 292, and each sleeve member 292 is secured to the centering arm 3!], each sleeve 29---! and 29-2 being secured to the connected arm by set screw means as shown. Each centering arm 30 extends upwardly at one side of the annular diaphragm seat member 23).

The top 3! of the upper cylinder wall 2| of the annular diaphragm seat member 20 is flat and provides an annular seat upon which rests a diaphragm 32 of resilient material, preferably rubber or a rubber compound. The upper end 33 of the rod l6 has a screw connection with the center of the diaphragm 32.

In Fig. 2 the diaphragm 32 is shown substantially flat, and a plate 34 is seated on the top of the diaphragm 32, the plate 34 having been just ar sen placed; upon :the;diaphragm- 3'2 or havingwbeen subjected to- Y a processing: operation and; being ready-for beingunloaded. ,2

'When thezplate--34has ;,just been placed upon the .-diaphragm.= 32 movement of. the rod l Bdownwardly as by action of the spring lfirasthe; caster 1?! passes over ardepressedylportion of ,acan not show-n, l-servesto partially depress .701: dome'the diaphragm-.32 and simultaneously topmduce ,a movement of the centering bar 30 against. the side ofthe plate serving to center the plate on top of the diaphragm asrshown in .Fig.}4.

, Further. downward movement ofthe rod lt,,as shown in.;Fig.l.5, serves. to: completely depress ordome the diaphragm 32 producing a, sealed space=or chamber 35 tin-which the pressure is subg atmospheric, thereby 'holdingithe plate, 34 during a subsequent processing operation whichasshowh includes rotation of the pulley t5, the tubular shaft M, the annular diaphragm ,seatmember 20, the plate v(i4 thereon, ..and the rod 15 and attached parts.

'Moreover, when the diaphragm'ftZ.isocompletee 1yv depressed, as'shown in Fig. 5, the centering bars 311. aremoved so that their upper ends 3,6 are. at one "side ofand below the top edgeflof the plate 314, permitting operation of an applicator such has set forth in my application for U. S. Letters Patent. Serial No. 721,126, filed Janu ary'9,194'l, for the lipurposeoi applying a line a: coloring. material tothe outer edge of'the plate" A second embodiment a of the improved suction holding apparatus is shown inFigsfiG and 7, and is also'inthe form of a vacuum chuck indicated generally by [T0, and includes a horizontal base plate "I'll "having a circular opening formed therein in which is located and secured to the base plate Ill a tubular'bearing sleeve housing H2 and a pair of ball'bearings H3 are carried in thesleeve' housing l [2.

'Within the 'bore of the inner raceways of the ball bearing H3 there is fitted and secured a tubular shaft H 1 having a vertical axis of rotation. Below the base plate 1H and the lower end of the sleeve housing H2 there is secured on the tubular shaft H4 a 'V-pulley H5 which is associated with belt motor drive means for rotating the'tubular shaft H4 and the parts mounted thereon. p "In the bore of the tubular shaft H4 there i's slidably guide "mounted for longitudinal movement-a vertical rod H6 which extends above and below the upper and lower'ends of the tubular shaft 114. On the lower end of the rod H6 there is secured a vertically swiveled caster l l 1 which operates on 3, raising and lowering cam IHI. On the upper end of the tubularshaft I Mthere is secured an annular diaphragm seat member indicated generally by I20, and which asshown is'in the form of an upwardly opening cup in cluding an upper cylinder wall I2! at the-lower end-of -whichithere is a .bottom wall l22iwhich has a':centra1 internally threaded vertical open ingiscrewed upon external threads on the upper endwof the tubular shaft H4. In the cylinder wall ;I'2I there are 'formed a plurality of verti-, cal slots I23. Within the'cylinder'wall l2] there is secured ronthe rod H6 adjacent itsupper end a collar I124, and a-horizontal arm I25 extends from-thecollar izdthrough each slot L23 inthe cylinder wall-121'. I .1 Y The top ri -31 0f the upper cylinder wall-l2l of the annular diaphragm seatmember 120 islflat and provides an annular seat upon which rests a diaphragm I32: of resilient material, preferably rubberr-tor'a rubber "compound. upp rtend l,33,-;ofthe rod 1 1-6 has a screw-connection 'with the'eenterofthe-diaphragm I32. 7A ,plate centering ring indicated generally by I40- has a central metal; sleeve Ml with-abore fitting on the cylinder wall I21, the lower end of the sleeve M l i-resting on the upper sides of thev arms 125, and an annular. vflat flangeJAZ extending outwardly from the sleeve 4| 4 I and sun porting airing mold .l4 3,. formedof plaster of Paris .or similar. material and having an upper faced conforming to the bottom face .of a plate L34 andservingtocenter theplate on the diaphragm J 32. vIn Fig. 6 the diaphragm 13,2 isshown sub; stantially fiat, ,thewplate 134 havin been .just placed uponrthe diaphragm 13.2 or having been subjected to a processing. operation and ,being readyfor being unloaded. 1;

In Fig. 7 the'parts of theimprovedchuckd 10 are shown in their ,7 relative vpositionswhen. the diaphragm l32isdepressedordomed" ly below the bottom of the plate I34. l an annular zone ,of .the. diaphragm 132' eated upon the flat upper ,end 13 L of the cylinder wall l2l, the clothing of the-.diaphmgm.heirlgeffected by dropping of, the caster H], therod, the arms l25,,and theucenteringpring. Mil,- the, caster Il'l. having dropped from ,a lhighhpoint-rthe; cam li l-i,toalowpoint. I I

The downward: depression, or doming'gof the diaphragm I32 produces between .thediaphr m 132 and thebottom .of jithe' plate 13 4 a sealed Snace'o'r chamber 1'35 in which the presfsure'is subatmospheric, thereby holding the plate jjlti fi duringla subsequent processing operation; which as ,shown includes rotation of the-pulley H5, the tubular sha'ft 'l'l lfitheiannular diaphragm seat member I'ZiJ the plate. [3'4 on theidiaphragm r32; and the rod i'lttand attached parts, thereby per-i mitting operation of an applicator such as 2 set forth, inmy application ior U. S. Lett rs Patent, Serialj'No. '721;l26,filed January'Q; '194!7, forthe purpose of applying-a line of coloring. material to the'outer edge of the plate I 34. I

A third embodiment of'the' improved suction holding apparatus is shown in-Figs. seed 9, and is in the form of a suction lifter indicated gene'r ally by llil, and includes an elongated, sleeve 2 in .the .preferably cylindric bore of which there is slidably mounted for longitudinal .movement a preferably. cylindric rod-,2l.5 which extends be yondjthe oppositeendsof the sleeveji. [4. On 'one end of the rod, .whichdstheupper end asshown, and which .is iuppermost in the usual, operating position, "there .is. secured I a handlenz ll, 7 which may .be as .r shown a side opening ovally curved handle. -.O;n, the sim-ilarly located end of the sleeve 2 l4 thereissecUred one-end oflalifter rod z l ll andthe other lifter hook endZiQT Z-of the rod 214-] .curvesdnwardly into the side opening of ;the handle' ill, The handle/251m eludes a-laterally: extending. grip portion 2 ties! abovethehookendJM-J. g L On the oppositeendv of the sleeve 2M, which is the lower endasshown, there is securedan annular diaphragm. seat ;-member indicated gen erally by 220, andwhichlasrshown is inthe form of acup includinga cylinder :wallr22l, which is lowermost as shown, and on one endjofiwhich,

the upper end as shown, there is a transverse wall 222 which hasacentralinternallyfthreaded openingscrewed upon external threads .on {the connected end 01- thesleeve 2M. .In the cylinder Wall 42 2 l there are Zformed aplurality v of vertical 7 slots 223. Within the cylinder wall 22f there is secured on the rod 216 adjacent its end within the cylinder wall 221 a preferably massive collar 224, and an arm 225 extends laterally from the collar 224 through each slot 223 in the cylinder wall 221.

The outer end 231 of the cylinder wall 221 of the annular diaphragm seat member 220 is a flat annular end, and a diaphragm '232 of resilient material, preferably rubber or a rubbercompound, has a seat face 232-1 opposite and abutting the flat annular end 231 of the diaphragm seat memher 220. The end 233 of the rod 216 within the cylinder wall 221 has a screw connection with the center of the diaphragm 232. The diaphragm 232 includes an outer face 232-2.

In the diaphragm 232, an outer annular zone 232-3 extends over the flat annular end 231 of the diaphragm seat member 220, and a plurality of connecting members preferably flexible connecting chain members each indicated by 250 each connects'the outer periphery of the dia- .phragm annular zone 232-2 with: the outer side of the annular seat member 220, preferably as shown at the junction of the cylinder wall 221 with the transverse wall 222;

The suction lifter 210 may be used to hold or lift any object having a flat exposed face against which the outer face 232-2 of the diaphragm 232 may be abutted, and the suction lifter 210 is particularly adapted for lifting sheet material, and particularly non-magnetic sheet material such as sheet aluminum, ply wood, and the like. In Fig. 8 the suction lifter 210 is shown in position just ready to lift a top sheet 234 from a pack of sheet material, the outer face 232-2 of the diaphragm 232 having been abutted against the upper face of the top sheet 234, and the handle 211 having been lifted upwardly thereby lifting the rod 216 and the central portion of the diaphragm 232 within the zone 232-3 producing the sealed chamber 235 in which the pressure is sub-atmospheric, and the zone 232-3 being sealed against the top sheet 234 by the external atmospheric pressure.

After the sheet 234 has been lifted by the suction lifter 210 and transported as to the top of another pack of sheets asshown in Fig. 9, the handle 211 is released and the weight thereof and of the rod 216 and the massive collar 224 cause the dropping of the diaphragm 232 whereby lifting the hook end 214-2 lifts the tube 214, the seat member 220, and through the connecting members 25!], the annular zone 232-3 of the diaphragm 232, breaking the seal between the annular zone 232-3 and the sheet 234, thereby releasing the suction lifter 210 from the sheet 234. The suction lifter 210 is then ready for another lifting or holding operation.

The embodiments of the present invention illustrated and described herein are by way of example, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the same or to the particular details thereof but is commensurate with any and all novel subject matter contained herein which may at any time properly under the patent laws be set forth in the claims hereof or originating herein, and the elements of any such claims are intended to include their functional or mechanical equivalents. v

1. In suction holding apparatus, a diaphragm seat member having a flat annular end, a diaphragm of resilient materialhaving an outer face and an opposite seat face abutting in an anniilar zone of the diaphragm the flat annular end 'of the diaphragm seat member, and means connected with the diaphragm for changing the conformation of the diaphragm from a substantially flat conformation to a domed conformation, whereby an object abutting the outer face of the diaphragm is loose when the diaphragm is substantially fiat, and whereby when the diaphragm is domed'a' sealed chamber is formed between the object and the diaphragm, the sealed chamber engirdled by the flat annular end of the diaphragm seat memberand the abutting annular zoneof the diaphragm, and the pressure in the sealed chamber being sub-atmospheric and the object being held on the abutting annular zone of the diaphragm, and means operative during the changing of the conformation of the diaphragm to center the object on the diaphragm with respect to the-flat annular end of the diaphragm seat member.

2. In suction holding apparatus, a diaphragm seat member having an upper flat annular end, a diaphragm of resilient material having an outer face and an opposite seat face abutting in an annular zone of the diaphragm the upper flat annular end of the diaphragm seat member, and means connected with the diaphragm for changing the conformation of the diaphragm from a substantially fiat conformation to a domed con formation, whereby an object abutting the outer face of the diaphragm is loose when the diaphragm is substantially flat, and whereby when the diaphragm is domed a sealed chamber is formed between the object and the diaphragm, the sealed chamber being engirdled by the upper flat annular end of the diaphragm seat member and the abutting annular zone of the diaphragm, and the pressure in the sealed chamber being sub atmospheric and the object being held on the abutting annular zone of the diaphragm, and means operative duringthe changing of the conformation of the diaphragm to center the object on the diaphragm with respect to the flat annular end of the diaphragm seat member.

. 3. In suction holding apparatus, a cup having a cylinder wall and a bottom wall, the cup having a diaphragm seat end, a diaphragm of resilient material seated upon the diaphragm seat end of the cylinder wall, a tubular shaft having one end connected with -the cup bottom wall, means mounting the tubular shaft forrotation, and a rod slidable in the tubular shaft, the rod having one end connected with the diaphragm, and object centering arms operatively associated with the cup and with the rod for movement to center an object on the diaphragm during movement of the rod changing the conformation of the diaphragm.

4. In suction holding apparatus, a cup having a cylinder wall and a bottom wall, the cup having a diaphragm seatend, a diaphragm of resilient material seated upon the diaphragm seat end of the cylinder wall, a tubular shaft having one end connected with the cup bottom wall, means mounting the tubular shaft for rotation, and a rod slidable in the tubular shaft, the rod having one end connected with the diaphragm, and object centering armsoperatively associated with the cup and with the rod for movement to center an object on the diaphragm during movement of the rod changing the conformation of the diaphragm,and spring'means urging the rod to move so as to change the conformation of the dia- Ph m f 5. Insuction holding apparatus, a cup having REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number Number 10 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Dunham July 21, 1914 Knabe July 20, 1915 Johnson June 4, 1940 Ebbs Feb. 16, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Feb. 15, 1910 

